Velocipede-saddle



(No Model.) V 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. A. HUNT. VELOGIPEDE SADDLE.

N0.483,559. Patented Oct. 4, 1892.

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J. A. HUNT. VELOGIPEDB SADDLE.

No. 483,559. Patented 001 s. 4, 1892.

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UNITED STATES? PATENT OFFICE.

JONATHAN A. HUNT, VVESTBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS.

VELOClPEDE-SADDLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 483,559, dated October4, 1892.

Application filed March 16, 1892. Serial No- 425,158. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JONATHAN A. IIUNT, a cltizen of the United States,residing at VVestborough, in the county of Worcester and State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inVelocipede-Saddles; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description thereof, which, in connection withthe drawings making a part of this specification, will enable othersskilled in the art to which my invention belongs to make and use thesame.

My invention relates to saddles for velocipedes or bicycles; and itsobject is to improve upon the construction of the saddles as nowordinarily made.

My invention consists in the improved construction of the saddle properand of the supporting-spring and connecting devices, as will behereinafter fully described, and the nature thereof indicated by theclaims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a saddle ofmyimproved construction. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section on line 22, Fig. 1, looking in the direction of arrow at, same figure, showingthe saddle-support and the spring. Fig. 3 isacross-section on line3 3,Fig. 1, looking in the direction of arrow 2), same figure. Fig.4. is adetail of the under side of the front portion of the saddle, showing animproved construction of the hook attachment for the spring. Fig. 5 is across-section on line 5 5, Fig. 2, looking in the direction of arrow 0,same figure, showing the clamping device partially broken away. Fig. 6is a view of the under side of the saddle shown in Figs. 1 and 2,showing a modified construction thereof; and Fig. 7 corresponds to Fig.2 and shows a modified construction of the spring shown in Fig. 2.

In the accompanying drawings, 1 is the saddle, preferably made of onethickness of leather and of the ordinary pear shape. The central portionof the saddle, instead of being cut out to form a longitudinal slottherein in the ordinary way, is depressed by means of a suitable die orotherwise below the top surface of the saddle, as shown at 2 in thedrawings, and forms a convex surface on the under side of the saddle andleaves one central longitudinal depression 2 in the upper surface of thesaddle, having substantially-straight sides and curved edges, as shownin Fig. 8. The bottom convex surface of said depression has holes 3therein for the purpose of ventilation. In-

stead of separate holes, as shown, a continuous slot or opening may bemade in the bottom side of said depression, if desired.

By depressing the central longitudinal portion of the saddle below theupper surface thereof instead of cutting out the central longitudinalportion thereof to form a slot therein, as is customary, I form onelongitudinal opening in the upper surface of the saddle, having smoothand rounded edges, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, thuspreventing any unpleasant chafing or rubbing, which is liable to occurin the ordinary construction of a saddle with the raw edge of theleather exposed, and at the same time by not removing the material andby depressing the same I stiifen the saddle and render it less yieldingand less liable to give and stretch. The depression is of such a depthand the bottom of it is of such a width that when the upper portions ofthe side walls are forced together, as is sometimes done when the seatis being used, and especially at the front end of the opening, where theside walls are subject to inward pressure from the person of the rider,the lower portion of the depression will not be closed, but will alwaysremain open, and thus afford a free circulation of air throughout theentire length of the depression.

I preferably combine with the front end of the saddle to form a means ofattachment for the end. of the spring a metal plate 4:, which extendsupon the under side of the saddle at the front end thereof and has alongitudinal slot l therein and a bent or hooked end 4.". (See Figs. 2and 4.) The plate 4 is secured to the under side of the saddle by meansof a projection or tongue 5 upon the under side of the plate 6. Saidplate 6 is secured upon the upper side of the saddle 1, at the front endthereof, by rivets '7. The tongue or projection 5, on the lower side ofthe plate and made integral therewith extends through a slot in thesaddle proper and through the slot 4 in the hook-plate 4 and is retainedtherein by a pin 8 or otherwise, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 4. Therear projecting end 5' of the tongue 5 is adapted to lap over and bearagainst the rear part of the hook-plate t. It will thus be seen that thehook-plate a is readily detached for any purpose from the plate 6 bysimply withdrawing the pin 8 and moving back the plate 4 to allow thetongue 5 to pass through the slot 4 in said plate, and said hookplate 4is quickly attached to the supporting-plate 6 by inserting the tongue 5through the slot 4 in said plate 4 and drawing the hook-plate forwardand inserting the pin 8.

The hook attachment shown in Figs. 2 and 4 for the front end of thespring-support is more particularly adapted for pneumaticsad: dies, inwhich the hook attachment is secured to the lower section of the saddle.The plate 6 is secured upon the upper side of the lower section of thesaddle before the uppenand lower sections of the saddle are combinedtogether, and then when the upper and lower sections of the saddle arecombined together the" plate 6 will be concealed from view and thetongue 5 will extend down from the lower side of the lower section ofthe saddle and be adapted to be attached to the hook which is secured tothe front end of the spring-support. It will be observed by referring toFig. 2 that the spring action of the spring 9, engaging the hook 4" atits upper end, will. hold the plate 4 in its forward position,with itsend bearing against the tongue 5 on the plate 6.

The spring-support for the saddle 1 consists of two fiat metal springs 9and 10. The spring 9 is curved upwardly at its front end and providedwith an opening 9' therein, which receives the hook 4" on the plate 4.From the curved portion at the front end of the spring 9 the springextends backward in substantially a straight line. (See Fig. 2.) Thespring 10 is secured at its upper end by a bolt 11 or otherwise to theframe 18 at the rear end of the saddle and from that point is bent orcurved with substantially the same degree of curvature as the front" endof the spring 9 until it reaches the rear end of the spring9. The rearend of ,the spring 9 is preferably attached to the spring 10 at thispoint by aclamp 12,0f any ordinary construction, which is adjusted bymeans of a setscrew 13. From the clamp 12 the spring 10 is curveddownwardly and forwardly toward the front end of the saddle to a pointnearly under the middle point of the saddle, and at this point thespring 10 is clamped to the saddie-support 14 by a clamp 15, theconstruction of which will be more particularly described hereinafter.From the point where the spring 10 is clamped to the saddle-support 14it extends upwardly and rearwardly below the spring 9, and the free endof said spring 10 is clamped to the spring 9 by a clamp 16, of anyordinary construction, pro- Vided with a set-screw 17 to allow the clampto be adjusted. By means of the clamp 16 the springs 9 and 10, formingthe spring-support for the saddle proper, are secured together. Thesupplemental clamp 12 is for the purpose of increasing the tension ofthe springs 9 and 10 to stretch the saddle proper longitudinally. Saidclamp 12 may be dispensed with, if desired.

The clamp 15 for securing the spring-support of the saddle to thesaddle-support is preferably constructed as shown in the drawings, Figs.2, 5, and 7, and consists of the yokepiece 15" and the jacket 15",supported and adapted to slide on the outer side thereof. The spring 10passes between the under surface of the top bar 15' of the yoke 15 andthe top surface of the jacket 15", which is preferably notched, as shownin Fig. 5, and the lower surface of said jacket is rounded to receivethe saddle-support 14. A set-screw 16 extends through a threaded hole inthe lower end of the yoke 15' and bears at its inner end on the lowerside of the saddle-sup port 14. By turning in the set-screw 16 the yoke15" isdrawn down into the jacket 15",.

compressing and binding rigidly the spring 10 between the bar 15" of theyoke 15 and the upper notched surface of the jacket 15", all as will beclearly understood by referring to Figs. 2 and 5.

In Fig. 7 I have shown a modified construction of the spring-support ofthe saddle. The position of the springs 9 and 10 shown in Fig. 2 isreversed, the spring 9 being attached at its upper end to the rearportion of the saddie and the spring 10 being attached at its upper endto the front portion of the saddle. The shape of the springs and themanner of combining the same together is substantially the same.

I have shown in Fig. 7 the hook attachment for the front end of thespring-support made in one piece and consisting of a plate 19,'securedby rivets 22 to the under side of the saddle-seat at its front end. Theplate 19 has a hook 19' thereon to enter the slot 10 in the spring 10.Said plate 19 has also a downward projection or lip 19" at its frontend, which extends below the'hook 19 and is secured by a rivet 23 to thefront flap or portion of the saddle-seat. By means of the lip 19" on thehook-plate 19 the leather or covering of the saddle-seat is held firmlyat the front end of the saddle.

I find in practice that my improved springsupport for the saddle,consisting of the springs 9 and 10, gives substantially the same resultswhether the springs are arranged as 'sbown in Fig. '2 or as shown inFig. 7.

I have shown in Fig. 6 a modified construction of the hook-plate securedupon the under side of the saddle, with thehook at the front end to beconnected with the spring-support. In said Fig. 6 I have shown a plate20 secured by rivets 20 at its front hooked end to the front end of thesaddle and extending from the front end of the saddle to the rear endthereof and divided along its central portion to allow the centraldepressed portion 2 of the saddle to extend between'the divided arms ofsaid plate. The rear ends 20" of said plate 20 are attached by rivets20' or otherwise to the frame 18 at the rear of the saddle. If desired,the ends 20 of the plate 20 may be ad just-ably attached by clamps orotherwise to the frame 18, so as to tighten or take up any slack in theplate 20. The object of having the metal plate 20 extend from the frontto the rear of the saddle proper upon the under side thereof is tostiffen the saddle and to furnish a support for the central portion ofthe saddle and prevent the leather from sagging down in the middlethereof from constant use. The construction of the plate 20 isespecially adapted for pneumatic saddles.

I may interpose between the plate 20 and the under side of the saddlerubber cushions, as shown by dotted lines 21, Fig. 6, to furnish ayielding support for the saddle-seat.

It will be understood that the details of construction of the severalparts of myim proved saddle for velocipedes and bicycles may be Variedsomewhat from what is shown and described, if desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. A saddle-seat for velocipedes and bicycles, having a centrallongitudinal depression formed therein, the upper portion of the Wallsof which depression are rounding and the bottom of which depressionisperforated and is of such a width and at such a distance below the uppersurface of the seat as that when the upper portions of the walls areforced together the lower portion of the depression will remain open andunobstructed, substantially as set forth.

2. In a bicycle-saddle, an improved attachment for the front end of thespring-support, consisting of a plate, as 6, adapted to be secured tothe saddle, and a tongue or flat projection 5 upon the under side ofsaid plate, adapted to extend through a longitudinal slot in a secondplate, as 4, provided with a hook 4" at its front end, and said platedand a pin 8 or equivalent device for holding the plate 4 on said tongue5, which has a rear projecting end 5 to extend over the rear end of saidplate 4, substantially as set forth.

3. In a bicycle-saddle, the combination, with a metal plate, as 6,secured to the front end of the saddleseat and having adownwardlyextending tongue 5, with a rearwardly-projecting end 5', of aplate, as 4, having a hook on the front end thereof and a longitudinalslot in the body thereof adapted to receive the tongue 5, and a pin 8 orother device for securing the plate 4 on said tongue, with the rear end5 of said tongue extending overthe rear end of said plate, substantiallyas set forth.

4. In a spring-support for bicycle-saddles, the combination, with a flatspring attached at one end to the saddle and curved upwardly at said endand from said curved end extending in substantially a straight line, ofa second flat spring secured to the other end of the saddle and curveddownwardly toward the saddle-support and from the point of attachment tothe saddle-support curved upwardly and rearwardly and extending in aplane below the first-mentioned spring and clamped thereto,substantially as shown and described.

5. In a spring-support for bicycle-saddles, the combination, with aspring 9, curved upwardly at one end and extending in substantially astraight line from the point of curvature to its rear end, of a spring10, curved upwardly at one end, where it is attached to the saddle, andfrom said end curved downwardly to the point where it is to be clampedto the saddle-support and from said point extending upwardly andrearwardly in the direction of its other end and in a plane below thespring 9 and clamped thereto, substantially as shown and described.

6. In a spring-support for bicycle-saddles, the combination, with a flatspring curved upwardly at one end and adapted to be attached to thesaddle at said end and extending in substantiallya straight line fromits point of curvature, of a second flat spring adapted to be attachedat one end to the saddle and curved downwardly to a point where it is tobe attached to the saddle-support and from that point curved upwardlyand rearwardly, bearing against the lower side of the firstmentionedspring and clamped thereto, and also clamped to the free end of thefirst-mentioned spring for the purpose stated, substantially as shownand described.

7. The combination, with the spring-support of a bicyclesaddle, of aclamp for attaching the same to the saddlesupport, consisting of a yokeand a jacket mounted and adapted to slide thereon and to bind thespring-support between the upper surface of said jacket and the upperend of said yoke and a set-screw for clamping the parts to gether uponthe saddle-support, substantially as set forth.

8. A clamp for attaching the spring-support of bicycle-saddles to thesaddle-support, consisting of the yokepiece 15, through which passes thesaddle-support, the jacket 15", mounted on said yoke, between the uppersurface of which and the upper end of the yoke the spring passes, and aset-screw for drawing the yoke 15 into the jacket 15" to clamp thespring, substantially as shown and described.

9. The combination, with a saddle for bicycles, of a hook-plate securedto the under side thereof at the front end of the saddle and extendingrearwardly the length of the saddle and attached to the rear frame ofthe saddle to serve as a brace and support and rubber cushions orsprings interposed between said plate and the under side of thesaddle-seat for the purpose stated, substantially as set forth.

J ONATIIAN A. HUNT.

Witnesses:

JOHN C. DEWEY, KATIE FARRELL.

